MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, continues its support of the Tuskegee Airmen through the national sponsorship of their 40th National Convention, August 3-7, 2011 in National Harbor, Maryland. VITAS’ support includes memorable military film screenings at the convention, providing travel for surviving Tuskegee Airmen to Maryland and coordinating patriotic send-offs for attending Airmen in their local communities.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African American combat pilots in the Army Air Corps who fought in World War II. The Airmen overcame segregation and racial discrimination to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. They received hundreds of medals and other recognitions for their distinguished service. Today, the surviving Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOTA) are in their 80s and 90s.
“For more than 30 years, VITAS has met the needs of America’s veterans near the end of life by honoring their sacrifice and service,” says Tim O’Toole, VITAS chief executive officer. “We are proud to once again support the Tuskegee Airmen’s Convention and salute the surviving members of this remarkable organization who share their legacy with our younger generations.”
At the convention, VITAS will present two military documentaries: “For Love of Liberty,” from Eleventh Day Entertainment and director Frank Martin, that depicts African American men and women in the armed services from the Civil War to present day and “Double Victory,” a documentary on the Tuskegee airmen by acclaimed filmmaker George Lucas.
VITAS staff from California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas arranged travel and are personally escorting nearly two dozen Airmen and their companions to attend the convention. In addition, VITAS will honor the spouses of the airmen during their annual tea at the convention.
For more information on the Tuskegee Airmen National Convention, visit http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/TAI_Convention.html or call VITAS at 800-93-VITAS.
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®, a pioneer and leader in the hospice movement since 1978, is the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 54 hospice programs in 16 states and the District of Columbia. (Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin). VITAS employs 10,700 professionals who care for terminally ill patients daily, primarily in the patients’ homes, but also in the company’s 34 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the second quarter of 2011, VITAS reported an average daily census of 13,484. Visit www.vitas.com.
Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE) operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter.
CONTACT:
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®
Kal Mistry, 305-350-5990
Chief Administrative Officer/Senior Vice President
or
Claudia Quintana, 305-350-4359
Media and Public Relations Manager
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